Diving board construction

ABSTRACT

An elongated base structure is provided including opposite side longitudinal members interconnected decentrally intermediate their opposite ends by means of a central transverse brace extending therebetween and rigidly secured to the opposite side members. One pair of corresponding ends of the side members include upstanding mounting plates and a large diameter horizontally disposed tubular member extends between and is secured at its opposite ends to upper portions of the mounting plates disposed above the opposite side members of the brace structure. Upstanding eye bolts are secured downwardly through opposite end portions of the tubular member and a pivot shaft is rotatively received through the eye portions of the eye bolts disposed above the opposite ends of the tubular member. Clamps are provided at points spaced along the pivot shaft intermediate the eye portions of the eye bolts and the clamps are secured to the underside of the base end of a generally horizontal diving board generally paralleling the opposite side members and extending toward the ends thereof remote from the mounting plates, a compression spring being disposed between the central transverse brace and the mid-portion of the diving board spaced above and in vertical registry with the transverse brace.

United States Patent Fischer Dec. 24, 1974 DIVING BOARD CONSTRUCTION[76] Inventor: Henry V. Fischer, R.F.D. No. l,

Tipton, Mo. 65081 22 Filed: Jan. 7, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 431,483

[52] US. Cl. 272/66 [51] Int. Cl A63b 5/10 [58] Field of Search 272/55,66

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,764,413 9/1956 Wisner272/66 3,497,213 2/1970 Stanwood 272/66 Primary Examiner-Richard C.Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An elongatedbase structure is provided including opposite side longitudinal membersinterconnected decentrally intermediate their opposite ends by means ofa central transverse brace extending therebetween and rigidly secured tothe opposite side members. One pair of corresponding ends of the sidemembers include upstanding mounting plates and a large diameterhorizontally disposed tubular member extends between and is secured atits opposite ends to upper portions of the mounting plates disposedabove the opposite side members of the brace structure. Upstanding eyebolts are secured downwardly through opposite end portions of thetubular member and a pivot shaft is rotatively received through the eyeportions of the eye bolts disposed above the opposite ends of thetubular member. Clamps are provided at points spaced along the pivotshaft intermediate the eye portions of the eye bolts and the clamps aresecured to the underside of the base end of a generally horizontaldiving board generally paralleling the opposite side members andextending toward the ends thereof remote from the mounting plates, acompression spring being disposed between the central transverse braceand the midportion of the diving board spaced above and in verticalregistry with the transverse brace.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DIVING BOARD CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The diving board of the instant invention constitutes anassembly which is completely portable and includes its own base whichmerely requires that it is placed in a stationary manner relative to thedeck of an associated pool, the assembly may be anchored to the pooldeck if desired.

Heretofore, low diving boards have included strands or supports thereforrequiring sophisticated anchoring to an associated pool deck, the divingboard proper being supported from the stand in cantilever fashion.Because of the cantilever fashion of supporting the diving board proper,these more conventional types of diving board constructions place excessstresses and strain on the portions thereof which are anchored to thepool deck. The amplification of stresses and strain at the point ofanchoring of a diving board construction to the deck often results infailure of the anchoring structure and the need for frequent repairs.

Although there has been some development in diving board constructionswhich do not require the support of a diving board proper and the strandtherefor in cantilever fashion from the deck of a swimming pool, thisfield of invention has not been fully developed. Previous springingdevices which are generally similar to the diving board construction ofthe instant invention may be found in US. Pats. Nos. 3,300,209 to C.Friis, dated Jan. 24, I967, 2,8l2,l80 to L. P. Cymbal, dated Nov. 5,1957, and 2,764,413 to K.M. Wisner, dated Sept. 25, 1956. However, theseprevious springing devices do not include the refinements ofconstruction incorporated in the diving board of the instant invention.The diving board construction incorporates a base structure whichextends the full length under the diving board proper with the latterpivotally supported at one end in elevated position relative to and fromand corresponding end of the base and an upstanding compression springdisposed between upwardly and downwardly facing intermediate portions ofthe base and diving board proper, respectively. By this construction,the stresses and strain of a person using a diving board are evenlydistributed to the associated pool deck throughout the entire length ofthe base portion of the diving board construction.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved diving boardconstruction including structural and operationalcharacteristics whichwill enable the diving board construction to be portable without theneed for being anchored to an associated pool deck or the like and whichwill provide the desired springing ac tion of better conventional divingboard constructions.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding objects is to provide a diving board construction that may bereadily serviced by inexperieced persons when service thereon isrequired.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a diving board construction in accordance with the precedingobjects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, bea simple construction and be easy to use so as to provide a device whichwill be economical, feasible, long-lasting and relatively trouble freein operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is aperspective view of the diving board construction of the instantinvention as shown placed on a pool deck adjacent one side of the pool;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the diving board construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane and indicated by the section line 33 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view off one of the eye bolt portions of thediving board construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The numeral 10generally designates a pool deck extending about a pool well 12 havingwater 14 disposed therein to a level 16 below the upper surface of thedeck 10.

The diving board construction of the instant invention is referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 18 and includes a base structurereferred to in general by the reference numeral 20, a diving boardelement 22 and a compression spring 24 interposed between upwardly anddownwardly facing vertically spaced midportions of the base 20 anddiving board element 22.

' The base 20 includes a pair of elongated horizontal and generallyparallel opposite side members 26 and 28 comprising angle membersincluding upstanding mounting flanges 30 and horizontal base flanges 32.The base flanges 32 project outwardly from the remote sides of the lowermarginal edge portions of the mounting flanges 30 and the mid-portionsof the angle members 26 and 28 are rigidly interconnected by means of ahorizontal transverse brace 34 extending and secured between adjacentsides of the mounting flanges 30. The transverse brace 34 comprises aninverted channelshaped member including an upper horizontal bightportion 36 interconnecting opposite side depending flanges 38.

The base is placed on the pool deck 10 and although the side members 26and 28 need not be anchored in position, a plurality of fasteners 40 maybe secured through each of the base flanges 32 at points spacedlongitudinally therealong and anchored to the deck 10, if desired. Theopposite side members 26 and 28 extend away from the pool well 12 andthe ends of the side members 26 and 28 remote from the well 12 includeupstanding mounting plates 44 whose lower marginal edge portions arerigidly secured to the opposing inner sides of the mounting flanges 30in any convenient manner such as by welding. The upper portions of themounting plates 44 are interconnected by means of a large diameterhorizontal transverse tubular member 46 extending between and having itsopposite ends rigidly secured, as by welding, to the upper portions ofthe inner sides of the mounting plates 44.

A pair of eye bolts 48 are secured downwardly through the tubular member46 and anchored in position by means of threaded bolts 50 threaded ontothe lower ends of the eye bolts 48 which project below the tubularmember 46. The eye portions 52 of the eye bolts 48 project aboveopposite end portions of the upper periphery of the tubular member 46and rotatably receive the opposite end portions of a pivot shaft 54therethrough.

Diving board element 22 is placed above and generally parallels the base20. The under surface of the end of the diving board element 22overlying the tubular member 46 includes clamp members 56 secured aboutthe pivot shaft 54 at points spaced immediately inwardly of the eyeportions 52 of the eye bolts 48 and the clamp member 56 are anchored byfasteners 58 to the underside of the diving board element 22. The divingboard element 22 generally parallels the base 20 and extends therealongin spaced relation relative thereto toward the pool well 12. The lowerend of the large diameter compression spring 24 is anchored, as by spotwelding 60, to the center portion of the transverse brace 34 and theupper end of the compression spring 24 is anchored to the underside ofthe mid portion of the diving board element 22 by means of fasteners 62secured through mounting ears 64 carried by and projecting outwardly ofremote sides of the upper convolution of the coil spring 24.

From the foregoing it may thus be seen that the diving boarad element 22does not project appreciably beyond either end of the base 20 and thatthe base 20 may be readily anchored to the deck 10. Further, theplacement of the compression spring 24 between the underside of themid-portion of the diving board element 22 and the transverse brace 34insures that substantially all stresses and strain transferred to thebase 20 during use of the diving board construction 18 will be evenlydistributed throughout the base 20 to the deck 10. Also, the pivotalconnection of the base end of the diving board element 22 may be readilyserviced and either the pivot shaft 54 and/or the eye bolts 48 may bereplaced whenever needed. Also, the diving board element 22 may bereadily removed from the rest of the diving board construction 18 byremoval of the fasteners 62 and the fasteners 58.

Further, the lower end of spring 24 may be removably fastened to thetransverse brace 34 by means of removable fasteners and channel membersmay be used in lieu of the angle members 26 and 28, if desired.

The foregoing is considered as'illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A diving board construction including an elongated base defined by apair of elongated horizontal spaced apart opposite side members,transverse brace means extending between and rigidly secured tomidportions of said side members, one pair of ends of said side membersincluding upstanding mounting plates secured thereto and extendinglongitudinally therealong, a large diameter horizontally disposedtubular combined brace and support member extending between and rigidlysecured to said plates, a pivot shaft supported from, spaced slighlyabove and extending along said tubular member, and a diving boardextending along and overlying said base in spaced relation thereto, withone end of said board overlying said pivot shaft, means supporting saidone end of said board from said pivot shaft, upstanding compressionspring means interposed between said transverse brace means and an undersurface portion of a mid-portion of said board disposed above said bracemeans, and a pair of upstanding eye bolts secured downwardly throughopposite end portions of said tubular member and having horizontallyaligned upper end eye portions through which the opposite ends of saidpivot shaft extend.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tubular member is end abuttedagainst the inner sides off said mounting plates and is of a heightgreater than one-half the vertical distance between the under surfaceportions of said one pair of ends of said side members and the undersideof the corresponding end of said board.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said pivotshaft are rotatably received through said eye portions, said pivotshaft, intermediate said eye portions being stationarily anchored tosaid board.

4. A diving board construction including an elongated base defined by apair of elongated horizontal spaced apart opposite side members,transverse brace means extending between and rigidly secured tomidportions of said side members, one pair of ends of said side membersincluding upstanding mounting plates secured thereto and extendinglongitudinally therealong, a large diameter horizontally disposedtubular combined brace and support member extending between and rigidlysecured to said plates, a pivot shaft supported from spaced slightlyabove and extending along said tubular member, and a diving boardextending along and overlying said base in spaced relation thereto, withone end of said board overlying said pivot shaft, means supporting saidone end of said board from said pivot shaft, upstanding compressionspring means interposed between said transverse brace means and an undersurface portion of a mid-portion of said board disposed above said bracemeans, said side members comprising angle members including upstandingflange portions and horizontal flange portions projecting outwardly fromthe outer sides of the lower marginal edges of said upstanding flangeportions, said plates being abutted agains and secured to the opposinginner sides of said upstanding flange portions, said tubular memberbeing end abutted against the inner sides of said mounting plates andbeing of a height greater than one-half the vertical distance betweenthe under surface portions of said one pair of ends of said side membersand the underside of the corresponding end of said board, a pair ofupstanding eye bolts secured downwardly through opposite end portions ofsaid tubular member and having horizontal aligned upper end eye portionsthrough which the opposite ends of said pivot shaft extend.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the opposite ends of said pivotshaft are rotatably received through said eye portions, said pivotshaft, intermediate said eye portions being stationarily anchored tosaid board.

1. A diving board construction including an elongated base defined by apair of elongated horizontal spaced apart opposite side members,transverse brace means extending between and rigidly secured tomid-portions of said side members, one pair of ends of said side membersincluding upstanding mounting plates secured thereto and extendinglongitudinally therealong, a large diameter horizontally disposedtubular combined brace and support member extending between and rigidlysecured to said plates, a pivot shaft supported from, spaced slighlyabove and extending along said tubular member, and a diving boardextending along and overlying said base in spaced relation thereto, withone end of said board overlying said pivot shaft, means supporting saidone end of said board from said pivot shaft, upstanding compressionspring means interposed between said transverse brace means and an undersurface portion of a mid-portion Of said board disposed above said bracemeans, and a pair of upstanding eye bolts secured downwardly throughopposite end portions of said tubular member and having horizontallyaligned upper end eye portions through which the opposite ends of saidpivot shaft extend.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tubularmember is end abutted against the inner sides off said mounting platesand is of a height greater than one-half the vertical distance betweenthe under surface portions of said one pair of ends of said side membersand the underside of the corresponding end of said board.
 3. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said pivot shaft arerotatably received through said eye portions, said pivot shaft,intermediate said eye portions being stationarily anchored to saidboard.
 4. A diving board construction including an elongated basedefined by a pair of elongated horizontal spaced apart opposite sidemembers, transverse brace means extending between and rigidly secured tomid-portions of said side members, one pair of ends of said side membersincluding upstanding mounting plates secured thereto and extendinglongitudinally therealong, a large diameter horizontally disposedtubular combined brace and support member extending between and rigidlysecured to said plates, a pivot shaft supported from spaced slightlyabove and extending along said tubular member, and a diving boardextending along and overlying said base in spaced relation thereto, withone end of said board overlying said pivot shaft, means supporting saidone end of said board from said pivot shaft, upstanding compressionspring means interposed between said transverse brace means and an undersurface portion of a mid-portion of said board disposed above said bracemeans, said side members comprising angle members including upstandingflange portions and horizontal flange portions projecting outwardly fromthe outer sides of the lower marginal edges of said upstanding flangeportions, said plates being abutted agains and secured to the opposinginner sides of said upstanding flange portions, said tubular memberbeing end abutted against the inner sides of said mounting plates andbeing of a height greater than one-half the vertical distance betweenthe under surface portions of said one pair of ends of said side membersand the underside of the corresponding end of said board, a pair ofupstanding eye bolts secured downwardly through opposite end portions ofsaid tubular member and having horizontal aligned upper end eye portionsthrough which the opposite ends of said pivot shaft extend.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein the opposite ends of said pivot shaft arerotatably received through said eye portions, said pivot shaft,intermediate said eye portions being stationarily anchored to saidboard.